Which term describes reduced emotional expression that may mask true feelings?

• A. Blunted Affect
• B. Flat Affect
• C. Affect
• D. Facial Expression

Answer: (A)

Blunted affect describes a notably reduced display of emotion, where facial expressions, voice, and gestures show little emotional variation. This reduced expressiveness can mask what a person is truly feeling, making it look like they’re less affected by events than they actually are. In clinical terms, it’s a type of diminished emotional expression often seen as a negative symptom in conditions like schizophrenia or after brain injury.

Affect is the broader term for the observable range and intensity of emotions a person shows, so it’s the overall category rather than the specific reduction. Flat affect denotes almost no outward emotional expression at all—more severe than blunted. Facial expression refers to the outward signs of emotion on the face, not the degree of their intensity or concealment.